To help Oklahomans in need access critical oral health care, the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation (DDOKF) recently awarded a $290,000 grant to Neighborhood Services Organization (NSO). This grant will support NSO’s low-cost dental clinic in downtown Oklahoma City and its statewide dental education outreach program.

NSO’s dental clinic serves uninsured and underinsured Oklahomans who lack access to oral health care while the education program works to educate these populations on the importance of consistent and proactive dental care.

“Our mission is to improve the oral health of all Oklahomans, and NSO is completely aligned with this goal,” said John Gladden, chairman, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Oklahoma. “Through this grant to Neighborhood Services Organization, we’re helping even more of our vulnerable neighbors get the dental care they need, want and deserve.”

Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation has a longstanding history of supporting NSO. Since the partnership’s inception in 2009, and with this year’s generous grant included, DDOKF has donated more than $2 million to NSO to support its work of advancing oral health care among underserved Oklahomans. This year’s $290,000 grant is the largest amount DDOKF has donated to the nonprofit in a single year.

“In a world where a healthy, pain-free smile should be a basic right, many Oklahomans go without one,” said Stacey Ninness, president & CEO of Neighborhood Services Organization. “Our low-cost dental clinic and Oral Health Outreach Program help fill this critical need, and we truly could not do what we do without the generous support of Delta Dental of Oklahoma and its Foundation. We are so grateful for this grant and can’t wait to see the impact it has in our community!”

For 54 years, NSO’s Low-Cost Dental Clinic has provided critical oral health care to low-income Oklahomans who are uninsured or underinsured. The only kind in our state, this clinic ensures that citizens facing systemic barriers can access the affordable and quality dental services they need. The organization’s Oral Health Outreach Program serves as an extension of this clinic, working to educate underserved Oklahomans on the importance of caring for one’s smile and ultimately advancing oral health standards across the state.

The Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation exists to improve the oral health of all Oklahomans by funding and facilitating dental health and education programs. In addition to providing impactful grants to benevolent organizations with oral health initiatives, DDOKF supports dental care in our state in many other ways, including bringing Cavity Prevention Clinics to students across the state who otherwise might not be able to receive these critical treatments. The DDOK Foundation also provides meaningful support to the OU College of Dentistry through clinic funding, scholarships and student research stipends and helps connect citizens to affordable dental services through its Resource for Dental Care Guide and Dental Navigator Help Line (405-607-4747).

To learn more about the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation and how you can support its impactful initiatives, visit DDOKFoundation. org.